Combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for square members

ABSTRACT

A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member in which the distance between opposing faces is X, including a body portion have a handle and spaced apart jaws, one of the jaws being a torqueing and the other being a backup jaw, the jaws having a space therebetween configured to engage at least portions of the four sides of a square member whereby the square member received therein may be torqued by rotation of the handle in either direction, the width of the open space between the jaws being of a width less than X, the torqueing jaw having at the outer end a notch formed of a positioning surface and a perpendicularly intersecting torqueing surface and the backup surface being parallel to the plane of the torqueing surface and spaced from it a distance slightly greater than X, the length of the torqueing surface being less than 1/2 X, such that the square member may be ratcheted by engagement of the outer ends of the jaw and torqued by engagement in the member receiving space between the jaws.

United States Patent Evans 1*Nov. 25, 1975 COMBINATION TORQUEING AND RATCHETING WRENCH FOR SQUARE MEMBERS James P. Evans, 3233 SW. 23rd St., Oklahoma City, Okla. 73108 [76] Inventor:

[ Notice: The portion of the term of this patent subsequent to Nov. 26, 1991, has been disclaimed.

[22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1974 [21] App]. No.: 494,569

Primary Examiner-Al Lawrence Smith Assistant Examiner-James G. Smith Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Head & Johnson [57] ABSTRACT A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member in which the distance between opposing faces is X, including a body portion have a handle and spaced apart jaws, one of the jaws being a torqueing and the other being a backup jaw, the jaws having a space therebetween configured to engage at least portions of the four sides of a square member whereby the square member received therein may be torqued by rotation of the handle in either direction, the width of the open space between the jaws being of a width less than X, the torqueing jaw having at the outer end a notch formed of a positioning surface and a perpendicularly intersecting torqueing surface and the backup surface being parallel to the plane of the torqueing surface and spaced from it a distance slightly greater than X, the length of the torqueing surface being less than /2 X, such that the square member may be ratcheted by engagement of the outer ends of the jaw and torqued by engagement in the member receiving space between the jaws.

8 Claims, 15 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov.25, 1975 Sheet1of3 3,921,475

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 2 of 3 US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet 3 Of3 3,921,475

COMBINATION TORQUEING AND RATCIIETING WRENCH FOR SQUARE MEMBERS BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Hand wrenches in common use for rotating square members are generally of two types, that is, the box end wrench and the open end wrench. The open end has jaws with parallel faces. The-wrench slips over the square member to engage opposite sides. The box end has an encircled opening with the configuration of the opening such as to engage the square member. Both these types of hand wrenches in general use provide for torqueing the square member but do not provide for ratcheting, that is, rotating the square member by repeated motions of the handle without removing the wrench from contact with the square member.

Socket wrenches have been provided for engaging square members with ratcheting handles, however,

such devices utilize moving parts which co-act with 7 each other. This type wrench works satisfactorily, but is relatively expensive.

The present invention provides a wrench having means without moving parts for not only torqueing the square member by rotation of the wrench handle in either direction, but having, in addition, means for ratcheting the square member.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to provide a wrench having a body, a handle extending therefrom, and spaced apart jaws, the jaws having an area therebetween for engaging, at least portions of four sides of the square member to rotate it in either direction and having at the outer end of the jaws means for ratcheting the square member as the handle of the wrench is repeatedly actuated.

Those general objects, as well as other and more specific objects, will be fulfilled in the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a square member, such as a nut, bolt head, or the like, sharing the dimension thereof.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a hand wrench incorporating the principles of this invention. In the upper end of the wrench a square member may be received for torqueing between the jaws, or may be ratcheted by contact with the outer end of the jaws. The lower end of the wrench shows the same arrangement but wherein the contacting surface of the torqueing jaw intersects the adjacent positioning surface at an angle of more than 90.

FIGS. 3A through 3D show the sequence of steps wherein the wrench may be utilized with a square member for ratcheting the square member.

FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment of the wrench wherein the area between the torqueing jaw and backup jaw is configured to engage three corners of the square member including the arrangement wherein the outer ends of the jaws are configured to ratchet the square member. i

FIGS. 5A through 5D show the positions of torqueing a square member utilizing the embodiment of FIG. 4 and showing that by reversing the wrench a square member may be rotated in the torqueing position with out moving the longitudinal axis of the handle more than 22 /z.

FIGS. 6A through 6D show the sequence of rotation of a square member utilizing the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing that by reversing the wrench a square member may be rotated without rotatingthe wrench handle more than 45.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member having a distance between opposing faces of X, the wrench having spaced apart jaws with the space between the jaws being configured to engage and rotate a square member in either direction, and with the outer ends of the jaws configured to engage a hexagonal member and apply torque to the member when the wrench handle is rotated in one direction but to slide upon the exterior peripherial surface of the square member when the wrench is rotated in the opposite direction so that the square member may be ratcheted by repeated movement of the wrench handle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings and first to FIG. 2, a basic embodiment of the invention is shown. The wrench includes a body 10 having handle 12 extending therefrom. The longitudinal axis of the handle is designated by the numeral 14. Extending from the body 10 are spaced apart jaws, one being a torqueing jaw 16 and the other being a backup jaw 18.

The jaws 16 and 18 have a member receiving space 20 therebetween. The space 20 is configured to engage at least part of each of the four sides of a square member so that a square member received therein may be torqued by the wrench by the rotation of handle 14 relative to the member in either direction. More particularly, the wrench receiving space is defined by a first contacting surface 22, a second contacting surface 24, a third contacting surface 26 and a fourth contacting surface 28. Each contacting surface intersect adjacent contacting surfaces perpendicularly. The length of first contacting surface 22 is slightly greater than the distance (see FIG. 1) between opposing sides of a square member 8, that is, second contacting surface 24 and third contacting surface 26 are spaced apart from each other a distance slightly greater than the width X across opposing sides of a square member for which the wrench is dimensioneduA square member received in 'the space 20 is contacted along one full side by first contacting surface 22, along one full side by second contacting surface 24, and along portions of the other two sides by third and fourth contacting surfaces 26 and 28.

- The width of space Y at the outer end of jaws l6 and 18 is less than X. Thus a square member received in the space 20 is retained in the spaced until the wrench is removed from contact with the member by moving the wrench in a direction axially of the square member.

The outer end of torqueing jaw 16 is provided with a notch formed of two intersecting surfaces, one being a torqueing surface 30 and the other being a positioning surface 32. Torqueing surface 30 intersects positioning surface 32 at an angle of 90 so as to revive and of torqueing surface 30 and backup surface 34 are spaced from each other a distance slightly greater than X. The length of the torqueing surface 30 is less than /2 X.

Referring to FIGS. 3A through 3D, the use of the wrench to ratchet a square member 8 is illustrated. In FIG. 3A the wrench is engaged with square member 8. When the handle 12 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, torque is applied by the torqueing surface 30 and backup surface 34 to opposite corners of square member 8 so that it is thereby rotated as shown by the arrow. When the direction of movement of handle 14 is reversed, as shown in FIGS. 38, 3C and 3D, no torque is applied to the square member 8 and the wrench slides upon the peripherial surfaces of the square member. When the position is reached as shown in dotted outline in FIG. 3D a new bite is obtained on the square member 8 by the engagement of the torque ing surface 30 and backup surface 34 with different corners of the square member. As torque is again applied to the wrench handle in the direction indicated by the dotted arrow, the square member will again be rotated. Thus the wrench performs the duplicate service of torqueing a square member when the member is received in space between the jaws and ratcheting the member when the member is contacted by the outer ends of the jaws.

Referring again to FIG. 2, at the lower end thereof, a slightly different embodiment is shown. Whereas in the upper end of FIG. 2 the positioning surface 32 intersects the third contactng surface 26 at an angle of 90, in the lower end of FIG. 2 the angle of intersection of these surfaces is greater than 90. This illustrates that the angle relationship between the ratcheting surfaces 30, 32 and 34, while important to each other, are not critical as to the torqueing surfaces 22, 24, 26 and 28. In addition, the lower end of FIG. 2 provides a guide surface 36 at the outer end of the torqueing jaw 16 which intersects torqueing surface at an angle greater than 90. The function of the guide surface 36 is to assist in retaining the wrench in engagement with a square member when the wrench is being used for ratcheting purposes.

Referring to FIGS. 6A through 6D, an embodiment of the wrench is illustrated wherein the angle of the torqueing surfaces are arranged relative to the longitudinal axis of the handle such that movement of the handle through an arc of only 45 is required to fully rotate the square member. As shown in FIG. 6A, the angle A of the intersection of the plane of the contacting surface 22 relative to handle longitudinal axis 14 is about 157 /2 and the angle B of the plane of contacting surface 22 relative to axis 14 is about 112 /2. With the contacting surfaces offset relative to the longitudinal handle axis 14 in this manner the wrench handle needs to be rotated only 45 in order to repeatedly engage a square member torque rotation. With the wrench applied to the square member 8 in FIG. 6A and the bandle rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow towards the position of FIG. 6B, the square member 8 is rotated 45 The wrench may be turned over so that the obverse side is up, as shown in FIG. C, to re-engage square member 8 and rotate it in the direction indicated by the arrow towards the position shown in FIG. 6D. Thus the member 8 has been rotated 90 from the position of FIG. 6A to that of FIG. 6D while the longitudinal axis of the wrench has been moved in two 45 swings.

FIG. 4 shows an additional alternate embodiment of the inventionwherein the wrench torqueing surfaces are compsed of portions of a symetrical l6 sided FIG. formed of a portion of two square surfaces overlapping each other by displacement. It can be seen that with a square member 8 received in the torqueing space 20 the member can be engaged on at least part of four sides by contacting surfaces 26, 22A, 22B, 24A, 24B, and 28. A member rotated 45can be engaged by contacting surfaces 26' 22A 22B 24A and 28' The ratcheting surfaces 30, 32 and 34 are arranged substantially the same and function the same as has been previously described relative to FIG. 2.

FIGS. 5A through 5D show the configuration of FIG. 4 applied to torque a square member in an arrangement wherein the wrench handle must be rotated only through a total are of 22 /2". The wrench engages member 8 as shown in FIG. 5A and is moved to the position as shown in FIG. 5B, through an arch of 22 /2". The wrench may then be turned over to the obverse side to engage member 8 as shown in FIG. 5C and rotated through an arc of 22 /2 to the position shown in FIG. 5D. Through these steps the member has been rotated a total of 45 and it can be seen that with the member in the angular position as shown in FIG. 5D the wrench may again be reversed to engage the member for further rotation thereof.

The wrench described including the several embodiments fulfills the obejctives earlier set forth in that it provides a simple hand wrench having no moving parts including means at the same end of the wrench for engaging four sides of a square member for torqueing the square member in either direction, while at the same time providing means on the outer end of the wrench jaws for ratcheting the member.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification but is to be limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

What is claimed:

1. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member in which the distance between opposing faces is X, comprising;

a body having a handle portion and spaced apart jaws, one of the jaws being a torqueing jaw and the other being a backup jaw, the jaws having at least portions of the four sides of a square member whereby a square member therein may be torqued by rotation of the handle relative to the member in either direction, the jaws having at the outer ends an open space therebetween of a width less than X, the torqueing jaw having at the outer end thereof, a notch formed of two intersecting surfaces, one being a torqueing surface and the other a positioning surface, the backup jaw having, at the outer end thereof, a backup surface the planes of the backup surface and torqueing surface being parallel each other and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than X, the length of the torqueing surface being less than /2 X. 2. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench 3. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member according to claim 1 wherein said torqueing jaw has at the outer end thereof, a guiding surface, the plane of which is inclined towards said backup jaw and said wrench body, the guiding surface intersecting said torqueing wrench for a square member according to claim 1 wherein said space between said jaws is defined by a first and second contacting surfaces perpendicularly intersecting each other, the length of each such surface being slightly greater than X, and wherein the angle of the plane of said first contacting surface is about 157 /2 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle and the angle of the plane of said second contacting surface is about 112 /2 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle.

4. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member in which the distance between opposing faces is X, comprising;

a body having a handle portion and spaced apart jaws, one of the jaws being a torqueing jaw and the other being a backup jaw, the jaws having a member receiving space therebetween, the perimeter of said space being configured to engage at least portions of the four sides of a square member received therein and being defined by a first contacting surface of length slightly greater than X, a second contacting surface of length slightly greater than X, the first and second contacting surfaces intersecting perpendicularly, a third contacting surface of length less than X having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end intersecting said second coontacting surface perpendicularly and a fourth contacting surface of length less than X having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end intersecting said first contacting surface perpendicularly, the plane of said third and fourth contacting surfaces intersecting perpendicularly, the outcr ends of said third and fourth contacting surfaces being spaced apart a distance less than X, whereby a square member received in said space may be torqued by rotation of the handle relative to the member in either direction, the torqueing jaw having at the outer end thereof, a notch formed of two intersecting surfaces, one being a torqueing surface and the other being a positioning surface, the positioning surface intersecting said third contacting surface, the backup jaw having at the outer end thereof a backup surface intersecting said fourth contacting surface, the plane of the backup surface being parallel the plane of the torqueing surface and spaced from it a distance slightly greater than X, the length of the torqueing surface being less than X.

5. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member according to claim 4 wherein said positioning surface intersects said third contacting surface perpendicularly.

6. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench according to claim 4 wherein said torqueing surface and said positioning surface intersect perpendicularly.

7. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench according to claim 4 wherein said torqueing jaw has, at the outer end thereof, a guiding surface, the guiding surface intersecting said torqueing surface at an angle of more than 8. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench according to claim 4 wherein the angle of the plane of said first contacting surface is about 157 /2 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle, and the plane of said second contacting surface is about 112 /2 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle. 

1. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member in which the distance between opposing faces is X, comprising; a body having a handle portion and spaced apart jaws, one of the jaws being a torqueing jaw and the other being a backup jaw, the jaws having at least portions of the four sides of a square member whereby a square member therein may be torqued by rotation of the handle relative to the member in either direction, the jaws having at the outer ends an open space therebetween of a width less than X, the torqueing jaw having at the outer end thereof, a notch formed of two intersecting surfaces, one being a torqueing surface and the other a positioning surface, the backup jaw having, at the outer end thereof, a backup surface the planes of the backup surface and torqueing surface being parallel each other and spaced apart a distance slightly greater than X, the length of the torqueing surface being less than 1/2 X.
 2. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member according to claim 1 wherein said torqueing surface and said positioning surface intersect at an angle of 90*.
 3. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member according to claim 1 wherein said torqueing jaw has at the outer end thereof, a guiding surface, the plane of which is inclined towards said backup jaw and said wrench body, the guiding surface intersecting said torqueing wrench for a square member according to claim 1 wherein said space between said jaws is defined by a first and second contacting surfaces perpendicularly intersecting each other, the length of each such surface being slightly greater than X, and wherein the angle of the plane of said first contacting surface is about 157 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle and the angle of the plane of said second contacting surface is about 112 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle.
 4. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member in which the distance between opposing faces is X, comprising; a body having a handle portion and spaced apart jaws, one of the jaws being a torqueing jaw and the other being a backup jaw, the jawS having a member receiving space therebetween, the perimeter of said space being configured to engage at least portions of the four sides of a square member received therein and being defined by a first contacting surface of length slightly greater than X, a second contacting surface of length slightly greater than X, the first and second contacting surfaces intersecting perpendicularly, a third contacting surface of length less than X having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end intersecting said second coontacting surface perpendicularly and a fourth contacting surface of length less than X having an inner end and an outer end, the inner end intersecting said first contacting surface perpendicularly, the plane of said third and fourth contacting surfaces intersecting perpendicularly, the outer ends of said third and fourth contacting surfaces being spaced apart a distance less than X, whereby a square member received in said space may be torqued by rotation of the handle relative to the member in either direction, the torqueing jaw having at the outer end thereof, a notch formed of two intersecting surfaces, one being a torqueing surface and the other being a positioning surface, the positioning surface intersecting said third contacting surface, the backup jaw having at the outer end thereof a backup surface intersecting said fourth contacting surface, the plane of the backup surface being parallel the plane of the torqueing surface and spaced from it a distance slightly greater than X, the length of the torqueing surface being less than 1/2 X.
 5. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench for a square member according to claim 4 wherein said positioning surface intersects said third contacting surface perpendicularly.
 6. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench according to claim 4 wherein said torqueing surface and said positioning surface intersect perpendicularly.
 7. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench according to claim 4 wherein said torqueing jaw has, at the outer end thereof, a guiding surface, the guiding surface intersecting said torqueing surface at an angle of more than 90*.
 8. A combination torqueing and ratcheting wrench according to claim 4 wherein the angle of the plane of said first contacting surface is about 157 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle, and the plane of said second contacting surface is about 112 relative to the longitudinal axis of said handle. 